Chinese New Year celebration begins today

Jack Li, left, general manager at Mikura restaurant in Wyomissing, and his niece Cindy Lin prepare for the Chinese New Year celebration, which begins today. Cindy is holding a horse as China is ringing in the year of the horse. Jack is holding a lion, which is considered an iconic symbol of the Chinese New Year. The dishes are whole crispy fish, left, Dragon and Phoenix, center, and Four Seasons. The oranges are for good luck.

The Chinese New Year is a special day to get a fresh start, eat tasty food, decorate your home with dragons and party with friends and family.

The major difference from the American New Year is that the Chinese New Year celebration goes on for 15 days.

Today marks the first day of the celebration. Many of the local Chinese restaurants will have a special meal and elaborate decorations.

"The Chinese New Year is a celebration like the American New Year," said Jack Li, owner of Mikura, 840 Park Road North, Wyomissing. "It's a new start, which brings good luck and happiness to families. It's a great time of year."

Li said some of the restaurants serve crispy lobster, duck, and mango-coconut rice cakes for dessert. He said the cities with large Asian populations have parades and major celebrations.

"They have dragons dancing in the streets," he said.

Li said the Chinese designate an animal for each year based on the lunar cycle. The person is said to be born in the year of the particular animal designated for that year.

This year is the year of the horse.

"In the Chinese culture if you are born in the year of the horse it means you are an honest person," Li said.

Some other facts, according to www.history.com:

Chinese New Year is the most important social and economic holiday in China, honoring household and heavenly deities and ancestors with feasts and celebrations.

The celebration was born out of fear and myth based on the legend of a wild beast known as Nien, also the word for "year."

The beast appeared at the end of each year, attacking and killing villagers. Villagers used loud noises and bright lights to scare the beast away.

Fireworks displays are held on the eve of the celebration.

Businesses set off fireworks believing that will bring them good fortune during the year.

The Festival of Lanterns is held on the 15th day. All types of lanterns are lit and displayed on streets.

Children receive red envelopes filled with money.

Some young people today use the holiday for renewing family ties and relaxing during time off from work.